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Authors: Greg Scowen
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Spanish Galleon.
‘Hello?’
‘Hi Julia, it’s Matt.’
‘How’s New Zealand?’
‘It’s beautiful and I’m having a really interesting time. I’ll tell you all about it when I get back, but right now, I need your help.’
‘Fire away.’
That’s what Matt loved about Julia. No messing around. Just professional and straight to the point. As he spoke he removed the mirror from its safe-keeping and sank into the big soft sofa.
‘I’ve uploaded some files to our server. I want you to have a look at them. They’re photos of a mirror that Warren has found. It’s clearly of Celtic origin, but could you tell me more about it? Maybe see if someone at the museum or in the department can shed some light on it for me?’
‘Sure,’ Julia said. ‘I’m just bringing up the pictures now.’
Matt waited until Julia confirmed she had the files.
‘Someone at the museum can definitely help with this. I’ll let you know as soon as. Will a couple of days be all right?’
‘That’ll be perfect.’
Julia sounded distracted to Matt, so he thought he would leave it there and take the conversation elsewhere. He folded the mirror back into the cloth and returned it to its hiding place, before returning to the sofa. He continued on his new topic as he moved about.
‘So, how’s your analysis of the recovered galleon loot going?’
‘Good. Getting plenty done since it’s so quiet around here. But that’s not interesting. How’s New Zealand?’
Matt smiled. OK, if she was going to ask twice he had better at least give her something, besides he had a lot to tell and welcomed the opportunity to tell someone he knew about what he had seen and done in the last few days. He explained the different sites that Warren had shown him and discussed the pretty scenery and how odd it was to have summer in December. Then, for reasons unknown to him, he mentioned meeting Aimee on the flight.
‘She’s a Kiwi history student and was able to enlighten me with stories about New Zealand history. Actually, I asked her about the alternative theories of New Zealand history and she was a wealth of knowledge.’
‘So she told you about the Celtic theory?’
‘That and much more.’
‘More?’
‘There are lots of theories thrown around. There’s even one where New Zealand was discovered, or at least visited, by the Spanish.’
‘The Spanish?’ Julia sounded more alert now.
‘Yes, the Spanish.’ Matt was pleased with himself for exciting the conversation. He could tell that Julia wanted to know more. ‘A Spanish helmet was dredged out of the Wellington Harbour about 130 years ago. It’s been dated as 500 years old which puts the Spanish here long before the Dutch or English.’
‘Sounds interesting. I’d love it if you could find out more about that. But don’t forget that you’re there to help Warren with this mirror.’
‘I won’t forget. But I’ll find out more about the helmet if I can.’
‘Sounds good. Don’t do anything stupid though, Professor Pick was around here yesterday fishing for information.’
‘Seriously?’
‘He rabbited on about how you must have too much time on your hands if you’re able to go off gallivanting around New Zealand playing with history. Maybe the department isn’t working you hard enough or something.’
‘What a git. Hasn’t he got anything better to do?’
‘He has. He’s decided to look into your friend Warren and his theories himself. He’s asked me to give him Warren’s details. What should I do?’
‘Give them to him, it can’t hurt. I don’t have time to worry about Dwight and his damned insecurities right now. So much to see and do.’
‘Alright, I’ll take care of it, forget I mentioned him.’
‘OK, I will. I have a father to go meet.’
‘Oh God. Are you nervous?’
‘Nervous isn’t a strong enough word. It’s a mixture of feelings. I don’t really know what to feel.’
‘Good luck, I hope it goes well.’
‘Thanks, Julia. I reckon I need all the luck I can get.
‘Hello?’
‘Hi Julia, it’s Matt.’
‘How’s New Zealand?’
‘It’s beautiful and I’m having a really interesting time. I’ll tell you all about it when I get back, but right now, I need your help.’
‘Fire away.’
That’s what Matt loved about Julia. No messing around. Just professional and straight to the point. As he spoke he removed the mirror from its safe-keeping and sank into the big soft sofa.
‘I’ve uploaded some files to our server. I want you to have a look at them. They’re photos of a mirror that Warren has found. It’s clearly of Celtic origin, but could you tell me more about it? Maybe see if someone at the museum or in the department can shed some light on it for me?’
‘Sure,’ Julia said. ‘I’m just bringing up the pictures now.’
Matt waited until Julia confirmed she had the files.
‘Someone at the museum can definitely help with this. I’ll let you know as soon as. Will a couple of days be all right?’
‘That’ll be perfect.’
Julia sounded distracted to Matt, so he thought he would leave it there and take the conversation elsewhere. He folded the mirror back into the cloth and returned it to its hiding place, before returning to the sofa. He continued on his new topic as he moved about.
‘So, how’s your analysis of the recovered galleon loot going?’
‘Good. Getting plenty done since it’s so quiet around here. But that’s not interesting. How’s New Zealand?’
Matt smiled. OK, if she was going to ask twice he had better at least give her something, besides he had a lot to tell and welcomed the opportunity to tell someone he knew about what he had seen and done in the last few days. He explained the different sites that Warren had shown him and discussed the pretty scenery and how odd it was to have summer in December. Then, for reasons unknown to him, he mentioned meeting Aimee on the flight.
‘She’s a Kiwi history student and was able to enlighten me with stories about New Zealand history. Actually, I asked her about the alternative theories of New Zealand history and she was a wealth of knowledge.’
‘So she told you about the Celtic theory?’
‘That and much more.’
‘More?’
‘There are lots of theories thrown around. There’s even one where New Zealand was discovered, or at least visited, by the Spanish.’
‘The Spanish?’ Julia sounded more alert now.
‘Yes, the Spanish.’ Matt was pleased with himself for exciting the conversation. He could tell that Julia wanted to know more. ‘A Spanish helmet was dredged out of the Wellington Harbour about 130 years ago. It’s been dated as 500 years old which puts the Spanish here long before the Dutch or English.’
‘Sounds interesting. I’d love it if you could find out more about that. But don’t forget that you’re there to help Warren with this mirror.’
‘I won’t forget. But I’ll find out more about the helmet if I can.’
‘Sounds good. Don’t do anything stupid though, Professor Pick was around here yesterday fishing for information.’
‘Seriously?’
‘He rabbited on about how you must have too much time on your hands if you’re able to go off gallivanting around New Zealand playing with history. Maybe the department isn’t working you hard enough or something.’
‘What a git. Hasn’t he got anything better to do?’
‘He has. He’s decided to look into your friend Warren and his theories himself. He’s asked me to give him Warren’s details. What should I do?’
‘Give them to him, it can’t hurt. I don’t have time to worry about Dwight and his damned insecurities right now. So much to see and do.’
‘Alright, I’ll take care of it, forget I mentioned him.’
‘OK, I will. I have a father to go meet.’
‘Oh God. Are you nervous?’
‘Nervous isn’t a strong enough word. It’s a mixture of feelings. I don’t really know what to feel.’
‘Good luck, I hope it goes well.’
‘Thanks, Julia. I reckon I need all the luck I can get.
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